title: Behavior in self-care of the foot and foot ulcers in Thai non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.
abstract: A cross sectional study was conducted to examine behavior in self-care of the foot and foot ulcers in Thai non-insulin dependent diabetic patients. Fifty-five patients with foot ulcers (ulcer group; 42 females and 13 males) and 110 patients without foot ulcers (control group; 83 females and 27 males) were evaluated for self foot-care behavior using a questionnaire consisting of questions about foot inspection, foot cleaning, nail-care, and the use of footwear which possessed a total score of 20. The results showed that a mean total self foot-care score of the ulcer group was significantly lower than that of the control group (14.50 +/- 3.35 vs 15.74 +/- 2.31; p < 0.01). The patients with foot ulcers had lower mean scores in all of the four self foot-care categories than did those without foot ulcers. However, only the difference in foot cleaning score was statistically significant (7.35 +/- 0.21 vs 7.88 +/- 0.11; p < 0.05). A univariate analysis has shown that the risk of developing foot ulcers was significantly associated with a total self foot-care score of less than 15 with an odd ratio of 2.6 and a 95 per cent confidence interval of 1.3-5.6. Regarding the behavior in self foot ulcer-care, 45.5 per cent of the diabetic patients with foot ulcers had neglected them and 54.5 per cent had inappropriately cared for their ulcers. In conclusion, Thai non-insulin dependent diabetic patients with foot ulcers understood less about self foot-care practice than did those without foot ulcers. Incorrect self foot-care behavior particularly foot cleaning is associated with an increased risk of foot ulceration. In addition, diabetic patients should be advised about the correct self-care of their feet and foot ulcers in order to prevent foot ulceration and its complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sriussadaporn
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ploybutr
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nitiyanant
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vannasaeng
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vichayanrat
mesh_terms: D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D016523:Foot Ulcer / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012648:Self Care; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand